Patrick Mouratoglou has expressed concern over Juan Carlos Ferrero’s recent comments about Carlos Alcaraz, suggesting that publicly questioning the young star’s commitment to tennis could be a risky approach. The French coach believes Ferrero’s remarks might affect the relationship between player and coach, potentially creating unnecessary pressure.
Ferrero, who has guided Alcaraz to multiple Grand Slam titles, spoke candidly in a documentary about his player’s dedication to the sport. He highlighted moments where Alcaraz’s focus wavered, including his decision to party in Ibiza before winning Wimbledon in 2023. Mouratoglou reacted to these statements, explaining that while some athletes use distractions to manage pressure, publicly addressing such issues could lead to criticism.
Mouratoglou acknowledged that Ferrero may be trying to motivate Alcaraz but warned that such an approach could backfire if it damages trust between them. He emphasized that managing a player’s mentality requires careful handling, and airing concerns in public might not always be the best strategy.
These were Mouratoglou’s words:
“First of all, what Carlos has accomplished at a young age is unbelievable,” the Frenchman said in an Instagram video.
“I was very surprised to read that his coach said publicly that he was not committing 100%. It will bring a lot of criticism. It’s really difficult to manage that.
Apparently, the way he deals with pressure is to not commit 100%, which is actually a behaviour that is quite usual for professional athletes. That’s a way to take pressure away.”
As Alcaraz prepares for his next tournament, the discussion surrounding his commitment continues. Whether Ferrero’s comments will have a lasting impact remains to be seen, but the debate has certainly sparked conversation within the tennis world.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
At the moment ranked no.3, Alcaraz played his last match on the 20th of April when he was overcome by world no.10 Holger Rune 7-6(6) 6-2 in the final in Barcelona (draw).
At present, during this year Carlos achieved a compiled 24-5 match record. Carlos has won 2 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam and Monte-Carlo. The Spaniard was the finalist in Barcelona.
He is also scheduled to play at the French Open (French Open). The main draw will start on the 25th of May.